Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 7
7
Accepted
Set out a clear plan and funding for the Bikeability Programme within three months
Conclusion
DfT has not set out how it plans to expand its Bikeability programme and increase the rate of children and adults receiving cycle safety training. Bikeability is an important part of how DfT promotes active travel to children and adults and ensures people have the confidence to cycle safely. DfT plans to continue to fund the programme, but it has not yet agreed a business case for the programme. The 8 Active travel in England amount of funding that will be provided in 2023–24 is still uncertain, but DfT expects that it will be less than anticipated in the 2021 spending review, due to the current challenging fiscal environment. DfT told us that its planning for how to expand the Bikeability programme is ongoing. Once plans are in place, it will take time to expand the programme and to find and train the instructors needed. We are concerned that this lack of planning may lead to delays in delivering the training, particularly if funding is provided at short-notice and instructors cannot be found in time. DfT has committed to reviewing the Bikeability programme over the next 12 months with the intention of producing a simpler product that is easier for instructors to deliver. Recommendation 7: As an urgent priority, and within three months, DfT needs to set out a clear plan for its Bikeability Programme with a revised business case, including the funding it will make available to the programme over the remainder of the investment period to March 2025. Active travel in England 9 1 Progress with increasing rates of active travel in England
Government Response Summary
The government states that Active Travel England (ATE) announced a 2-year, £50 million funding package for Bikeability until March 2025, providing funding certainty. ATE has also commissioned a review of the program to improve efficiency and effectiveness of management arrangements.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Recommendation implemented ATE announced a 2-year, £50 million funding package for Bikeability on 29 September 2023. This delivers the funding certainty it needs for the remainder of the current Spending Review period, i.e., until 31 March 2025. Alongside this, ATE has commissioned a review of the Bikeability programme with the aim of increasing the efficiency and effectiveness of management arrangements. The review will focus on the systems used to allocate, monitor, and drive delivery of cycling training and associated support activities, including bench marking against other comparable training programmes.